Tuesday, June 30, 2015

I was raised in the country and we canned everything we couldn't eat fast enough. There is even a family story of a near feud between two of my great aunts due to canning jars not being returned. When I was a kid the jars often contained SWEET jam or SWEET pickles. If the jars were empty we drank SWEET tea or SWEET lemonade out of the jars. In the spirit of summer time canning I have made these SWEET pottery cuff beads and I have included a quick tutorial on how to make a cuff bracelet faster than you can peel a bowl of peaches.

Super simple, just take a leather cuff and punch one hole to match up with each of the holes on the bead and then punch an additional hole approx. 1/4 inch from the outside of the first two holes. I just hold the bead in the center of the leather and I use an ice pick to make a small prick in the leather where the hole will need to go.

Then I begin sewing the bead to the leather, I use waxed linen thread from the box chain craft stores (look where they sell leather). After stitching thru the bead and leather a few times I tie it off in the back.

Here are a few good shots of the knot in the back. I find that the wax string stays tight and does not come undone.

Repeat with the other side and cut off the ends when you are done. And faster than you can peel a bowl of peaches you have a SWEET cuff bracelet. Enjoy!

I also wanted to share two beautiful designs using my cross beads. The first is a Elli cuff bead made into a great bracelet by Southern Grace Jewelry and a beautiful necklace with one of my worldly mix cross pendants by Topa Topa Designs. Enjoy!

Saturday, June 20, 2015

I just finished a batch of Boho and Colorful pottery beads that I have made into sets of four. The large cuff bead is gently curved to hug your wrist and is approximately 48 mm or nearly two inches. The pendant bead is 39 mm and the two smaller earring beads are 21mm. They are in a mix of fun bright green, cobalt blue, tango orange aqua, and some yellow. I just finished a fun set for myself and after wearing a few times I have received lots of compliments. I just added some colorful beads I had in my stash to complete. I have these in the shop, I hope you enjoy creating with them.